Corner-joint for screens and other frames.



F. W. & R. S. VAN FLEET.

CORNER JOINT FOR SCREENS AND OTHER FRAMES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE as, 1913.-

7 1,102,460. Patented July 7, 1914.

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lllllllllrfilllirlllllllu 4 J ilbylllllll EWVizfiFZee? .R- 5. VznFZeeij INVENTORS THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON D. Cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. VAN FLEET AND RODNEY S. VAN FLEET, OF FOREST, OHIO.

CORNER-JOINT FOR SCREENS AND OTHER FRAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1914..

Application filed June 23, 1913. Serial No. 775,382.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FREDERICK \V. VAN FLEET and RODNEY S. VAN FLEET, citizens of the United States, residing at Forest, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Corner- Joint for Screens and other Frames, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in corner joints for screens and other frames.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of corner joints, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient joint of strong and durable construction designed for use on screens and various other frames, and adapted to enable such frames to be stored and shipped in a knockdown condition and to be quickly and securely put together.

A further object of the invention is to provide a joint of this character, adapted to enable screen frames and other frames to be made up of similar bars capable ofbeing cut off at one end to provide a frame of the desired height and width, whereby a screen frame may be quickly adjusted to the fraction. of an inch by the aid of a saw.

The invention also has for its object to provide a corner joint adapted by the aid of a tapering pin to enable two bars or members of a frame to be drawn rigidly together, whereby the bars after being cut the proper length may be quickly assembled requiring only the use of a hammer or similar tool fordriving the said tapering pins.

With these and other objects in view, the

. invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, with in the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of one corner of a screen provided with a joint, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken longitudinally of the top bar. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3--8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the clamp. Fig.

5 is a detail perspective view of the grooved end. ofone of the bars.

. Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing,

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1-1 designate similar bars or rails of a screen frame, arranged in angular abutting relation, and each bar or rail in practice beingprovided at one end with a groove 2 and having a longitudinal rib 3 at its inner edge to fit the end groove of the contiguous coacting bar, whereby the two bars are adapted to be fitted together to form an interlocking corner joint and are prevented from twisting and getting out of line. The other end a of each bar 1 is cut off square and is plain so that prior to assembling the bars of a screen, they may be cut off by the saw the proper length to provide a frame of the desired height and width to fit a window or other structure. By providing similar bars, each constructed as set forth, an easy and quick adjustment of the frame is attained, and the cost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum, and the handling of the bars simplified. In the form of bar shown in the drawing, the groove 2, which is curved in cross section, is arranged centrally of the end of the bar, which is beveled outwardly at 5 at opposite sides of the groove. The rib 3 of the inner edge of the bar is rounded to fit the groove 2 of the coacting bar, and the inner edge is inwardly beveled at 6 to fit the outwardly beveled portions 5 of the coacting end. The bars may be interlocked by any other form of rib and groove, or any other suitable means may be employed for effecting this result. 7

The grooved end of each bar is provided with a longitudinal slot 7 which is intersected by a transverse bore or opening 8, adapted to receive a tapering pin 9 of hard wood or other suitable material, which is driven into the bore or opening from the outer side edge of the bar to draw a clamp 10 inwardly into tight engagement with the bars, whereby the same are rigidly secured together and firmly held in their interlocked relation. The clamp, which is designed to be constructed of strap metal, or other suitable material, is approximately U-shaped, being composed of parallel side portions and a connecting end portion. The end portion extends across and fits against the outer side edge of one of the bars at the plain end thereof, and the sides of the clamp ex- I tend across the side faces of such bar and alongthe side faces of the other bar at the grooved end thereof, covering and concealing the longitudinal slot 7, which receives a transverse rivet 11 piercing the terminal portions of the sides of the clamp and headed at the outer faces thereof, but any other suitable fastening or engaging means may be employed to cooperate with the tapering pin or wedge 9. i The clamp forms a slidable sleeve mounted on one of the bars and receiving the end of the other bar, and when drawn into tight engagement with the bars, there is no liability of the latter becoming accidentally separated. The terminal portions of the sides of the clamp are preferably tapered, but any other configuration may, of-course, be employed, and the clamp may be varied in size and strength tosuit the character of frame to which it is applied.

The transverse fastening device 11 is located at the bore or opening 8 and is engaged at the outer or upper side by theinner smaller end of the pin or wedge, whereby material may be applied to whenthe'latter is driven into, the bore or opening 8, the clamp will be drawn in: wardly to bind the bars together, Besides securing the bars in their interlocked engagement, the clamp forms a metallic bind.- ing and greatly re'elnforces the frame at the corners thereof. Thebore, which may extend entirely through the bars, preferably terminates short of the inner side edge of the same. Alsoinstead of constructing the tapering pin or wedge-of hard. wood, any other suitable material may be employed, but it is preferable to employ wood as the latter is adapted tobe compressed in the wedging action, as illustrated in lt ig'. 2 of the drawing, without liability of injuring the. clamp or breaking the bars. Also by applying the pressure at the center of the pin or rivet, any tendency of the latter to bend will draw the sides of the clamp into tight engagement with the side faces of the bars. The woven wire 12 or other screen the frame in any other desired manner.

What is claimed i l. A joint comprising two angularly abutting bars, a clamp consisting of a loop slidably mounted on one of the bars and re ceiving the other bar, and means cooperatingwith the loop for drawing the same in wardly, whereby the bars are clamped tightly together.

2. A joint .comprising two angularly abutting bars having coacting interlocking means, a clamp slidable along one of the bars and embracing and engaging the other bar, and means coacting with the clamp for drawing the same inwardly, whereby the two bars are clamped tightly in their interlocked relation.

3. A joint comprising two angularly re lated bars' fitted together, one of the bars being provided with a longitudinal slot, a clamp consisting of a loop embracing the other bar and slidable on the slotted bar and having a portion extending into the said slot, and means mounted on the slotted bar and engaging with the clamp interiorly of the slot, whereby the clamp is drawn in- 1wgu'dly into tight engagement with the said ars.

4. A joint comprising two angularly related' bars, one of the bars being provided with a longitudinal slot and having'a transverse opening intersecting the slot, a clamp embracing and engaging the other bar and slidable on the slotted bar and having a portion extending into the slot, and a wedge arranged in the said opening and engaging with the clamp interiorly of the slot for drawing the clamp inwardly into tight engagement with the said bars.

5. A joint comprising two angularly re lated bars, one of the bars being provided witha longitudinal slot and having a transverseiopening intersecting the slot, a clamp and having side portions fitted against the consisting of a loop receiving the other bar i sides of the slotted bar and covering the 5 slot thereof, said clamp having a transverse portion connecting its sides and arranged in the said slot, and awedgeadaptedto be driven into the opening into engagement with the transverse portion of the", clamp, whereby the'latter is drawn into tight en-' gagement with the said bars.

'6. A frame includinginterlocking bars, each provided at one end-with a groove and at the inner edge with interlocking portions adapted to coact with the groove of the other bar,said bars being also provided at the grooved end with a longitudinal slot and having a transverse bore intersecting the slot, a clamp consisting of a'loop embracingone of the bars and having atransverse portion operating'in the slot of the other bar, and a wedge arranged in the transverse opening and engaging the clamp interiorly of the said slot.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aifixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. VAN FLEET. RODNEY S. VAN FLEET. l/Vitnesses:

GEORGE Er CRANE, ALTA A. SLOAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

